Warrens Sesquicentennial Celebration is July 3-4

Warrens is celebrating its sesquicentennial this summer and you’re invited to the party. The celebration kicked off May 15 and continues through the Warrens Cranberry Festival. The main celebration is July 3-4.

Activities get underway on July 3 at 5 p.m. with the Warrens Lions Club grilling brats and hot dogs at the ballpark concession stand. The Warrens Area Youth Association’s street dance begins at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. members of the Warrens Yak Club will lead “Dancing through the Decades.” The Town of Lincoln Fire Department’s fireworks show will start (weather permitting) at 9:30 p.m.

Paying tribute to Warrens’ logging history, activities on July 4 include a professional lumberjack show. The Timberworks Lumberjack Show will do free performances at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Other activities on July 4 include the Ho-Chunk Dancers, stagecoach rides, old-fashioned children’s games, pie-eating contest and more. Click here for a brochure with all the activities.

Warrens was founded in 1868 by George Warren and James Gamble. The two men had previously built a sawmill at what was known as Watermill, southeast of Warrens. In 1868, when the West Wisconsin Railway laid its rails from Tomah to Black River Falls, they set up a sawmill at the present site of Warrens. Originally called Warren Mills, the name of the village was changed to Warrens in 1892.

Even before logging began in the Warrens area, the early immigrant settlers had begun to clear the land. Many area farmers worked in the lumbering industry to supplement their income.

Following the decline of logging, agriculture regained its position as the principle source of income, particularly dairying and small fruit growing. Of all the agricultural products grown in the area, cranberries are what we are best known for today.

As part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration, a Senior Tea was held June 12 to recognize long-time Warrens area residents. Winning the title of Oldest Warrens Couple were Ralph and Ruth (Garber) Phillips. Faye Pedersen was named the Oldest Warrens Area Resident. Eugene Gebhardt received the award for Oldest Warrens Village Resident. Biographies on the award winners, along with the other nominees, are being posted on the Visit Warrens Facebook page.

Over Labor Day weekend, Moseley Roadside Market and Rex Moseley’s Fruit & Vegetable Farm will be hosting an event celebrating the Warrens Sesquicentennial. Check back later for details.

The Warrens Sesquicentennial Celebration concludes Sept. 29 with an Old-Fashioned Beard Contest as part of this year’s Warrens Cranberry Festival. The event has multiple categories for beards and mustaches, including a class for women. Click here for the contest rules and registration form.

For more information about the Warrens Sesquicentennial, contact the Warrens Village Office at (608) 378-4177